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Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Healing Power of Style

This stunning lady was walking down Park Ave when I asked if I could take her photograph.She smiled and told me that a few weeks ago her picture was taken on the street, for New York Magazine. When I was finished she thanked me and told me that I had made her day, but it was she who truly made mine.

I started Advanced Style to present a fresh perspective on aging.The ladies I photograph take pride in how they look and their style is a reflection of their vitality and spirit. One of my favorite ladies, Debra Rapoport, believes in the healing power of style. Dressing up gives her joy and in turn her colorful outfits inspire creativity and merriment in others. Debra lives by the mantra, "Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good." The fashion she and the other advanced style ladies display is merely a reflection of the care and thought they put into every aspect of their lives. The energy they expend towards dressing is manifested in their passion for living life to the fullest.

The Healing power of style is a reciprocal process that can benefit each one of us. Let's all try a little harder to dress up, feel good, and appreciate beauty in others.

19 comments:

I never post, but feel compelled to today. I love what you do, Ari. I love your ladies, I love their joie de vivre. They inspire me. I am in my early 50s - younger than most of your subjects - but I look to them as my role models.

Your words about the healing power of style were never more appropriate. Today, my dear 89-year-old father got bad news from his doctor about his health. It was a sad day for our family. I had worn some wild paisley and glitter boots that morning, which of course seemed very inappropriate afterwards given the sobering news. But so many people smiled and commented on how fun they were, that that frivolous little gesture somehow made the day a little easier to bear. Style does matter, maybe never more so than at those times when we need the warmth and comfort of other people to distract us from our sorrows.

You're so right, Ari! Style does, indeed, have the power to heal. You and the amazing ladies you share with us prove this over and over again. The lovely lady pictured in this post has marvelous style. Very elegant --- with a wicked sense of fun that she isn't quite able to hide. Love her!

I'm so very glad I found your blog. As we (women) take care of all the details in our lives, raising our children, taking care of our families, working, etc.; it is very easy to forget about ourselves. I am truly case in point. That is why I'm so glad I found your blog. This is such a wonderful reminder that we don't have to "look perfect" or be the right size, or age, to show our sense of style. I really, really needed that reminder. Thanks to you, and to the wonderful ladies of your blog.